Origins: Bright Blue Rose (Jimmy MacCarthy)

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,wellaway
Date: 05 Jan 11 - 03:57 PM

I think it refers to his own restless life his mothers natural creativeness, his own ability to turn nothing into gold and his father who was a very spititual person.
Try to get clip of the Late Late Show on RTE around Christmass 2010. Jimmy explains his reasoning behind the poem.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Andrez
Date: 12 Jan 11 - 06:24 AM

Would someone be able to put up a link to such a clip at all? Please, pretty please?

Cheers,

Andrez

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 04:18 PM

Like all great poetry it is written so that it may be interpreted in many ways. Obviously Black water is at one level the river Blackwater near where Jimmy is from... but I also imagine its life... perhaps swimming there as a child with childhood sweetheart, her a natural free spirit.. swimming through life with the grace of a dolphin. unlearned in philosophy/religion, un(a)shamed (Sex/ Catholic guilt.. not awkward and self-conscious not geek like... contrasting with Jimmy the geek.. who's ability to turn base words and notes into priceless art contrasts with his fear of entering the water/life... while he ponders his own death and his own life .. because he seeks to understand life and death, fearful of both... she has just beautiful natural lightness of being.

OK the final verse is a Religious reference clearly but I take it as ... Jimmy isn't alone in pondering life and death... and that for those that strike the right chord, what we do echos in eternity (as will Jesus's teaching and Jimmy's art) .. most of us are doomed to be forget-me-nots lost in the snow (born to blush unseen, wasting our sweetness on the desert air) but others become the Blue Rose.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,just someone
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 02:44 AM

Is it just me??? I always thought "she like a ghost beside me goes down with the ease of a dolphin and emerges unlearned, unscathed, unharmed" was about ..err, oral sex. Isn't it obvious?

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: NP1
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 05:21 AM

No it isn't - and you have a word wrong in that line - it's awakens and not emerges -

'I skimmed across black water
without once submerging
On to the banks of an urban morning
that hungers first light much, much more
than the mountains ever do

and she like a ghost beside me
goes down with the ease of a dolphin
and awakens unlearned, unshamed, unharmed
for she is a perfect creature,
natural in every feature
and I am the geek with the alchemist's stone'

Jimmy mentions writing the song after experiencing a 'hands healing' from a woman in Dingle during a time when he was unwell.

He explains all his songs in his book - Ride On - in song and story' TownHouse, ISBN 1-86059-169-8, pp220

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: breezy
Date: 08 Apr 11 - 11:51 AM

Dear NPI



    'Awakens' sounds O K but    'emerges ' is in lyrics I searched
and

Mary Black sings 'emerges'

So does Christie Moore,

So maybe it is 'emerges' ?

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 11 - 06:38 PM

Just happened to look up the song for someone Stateside just now and found this exchange. This may provide some factual explaination as to the background to the song.

In the seventies in Cork, 'Cafe Locra' in the Western Road was operated by Bill Daly and his partner Bernie. It where everyone who was anyone in the arts in Cork sometimes started and almost always finished the night.

The upstairs back room could hold about twenty people at a squeeze and it was here after gigs that Jimmy McCarthy, Jimmy Crowley, Seamus Creagh (RIP) etc came to wind down, chat and occasionally sing new songs etc.

On some nights there I had a Celtic antology edited by Grace Rhys and published in 1927. ( It was among the last projects funded by the IRB covert fund for the Celtic Revival ) She commented on p 34 of the introduction on what a person said to her when she confirmed that she was editing the collection of Celtic poetry and how pleasurable she found the task.

" That do not suprise me: for I have alway's believed the Celt has found the alkahest that reconcilles nature, religion, and art"

GR : " The alkahest ? And what is that?"

" The alkahest" said he " is the great solvent. The thing that the old alchemists were after"

GR then goes on to say ' it does seem that these Celtic poems reflect a different athomesphere from that we commonly breath to-day. In them the unstable realities of life. all it's changing essences of yesterday and to-day, have been dissolved in a sensitive medium and recreated for our better inspiration '

Jimmy loved that collection and many of the poems in it are mystical. As to the actual meaning of the song, the introduction began by saying that it was Melager the Greek poet who made the first anthology, the word approxmately at that period meant 'a collection of flowers''

Jimmy is a deeply spiritual person and the song as a whole, as many of his songs are, is the product of an experience. I will leave that to Jimmy himself to delinate if he feels like it but this is where Jimmy got concept of the ' alkahest ' and I can recall both Jimmy re-reading the introduction and discussing it with him on several different occasions.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Wolf
Date: 27 Apr 12 - 08:03 PM

My guess:
Go deep inside yourself
find out who you really are

Instead of analyzing, use the
gifts you've been given

Don't conform.
Come from a deeper place
seek your own path
and providnece will assist you
and gift you to the mystery.

2000 years ago Jesus challenged the status quo of the day.
Not by conforming. But by love. And that aint easy. But that's
what will connect you to the infinite.

Despite the religious symbols, I don'tknow that this song is "religious".

I think it's about awakening to something spiritual, and once you encounter
it, you have to follow it no matter how difficult it is.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Chris Murray
Date: 28 Apr 12 - 07:35 PM

I've long since given up trying to interpret any of Jimmy MacCarthy's songs (that's how it's spelt on his CDs, of which I have 2). They just create beautiful images for me. The best possible words in the best possible order.

My favourite version is Christy Moore's. In his book he says that he rarely includes it on a set list but will play it if requested. I emailed a request to him and he played it just for me at a concert in Liverpool a couple of years ago now.

It's really special.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Coyote deluxe
Date: 04 May 13 - 08:09 PM

Jimmy who wrote it said in an interview I saw that he didn't know what it was about

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Bruce Heavenor
Date: 06 Oct 15 - 11:56 PM

Bright Blue Rose has been historically used in medieval times to symbolize Mother Mary. Blue has been used to point to the mystical elements of Mother Mary. Perhaps black water is a symbol of the ocean of worldly concerns that separates us from the divine and bright blue rose is a symbol of his reliance and mystical refuge Mother Mary. With those symbols in mind, the words provide an interesting spiritual exploration.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Jack Campin
Date: 07 Oct 15 - 04:51 PM

Bright Blue Rose has been historically used in medieval times to symbolize Mother Mary.

Like where?

Got a link to any mediaeval picture that portrays one, with or without the BVM being involved?

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: BigDaddy
Date: 15 Jan 16 - 08:43 AM

"The theoretical roots outlining the (Philosoper) stone's creation can be traced to Greek philosophy." - Wikipedia. I just can't believe "Geek."

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Coxxy
Date: 05 Feb 16 - 10:13 PM

Many deep meanings some understood and some a mystery like the purpose of life
Don't know much but I understand enough to love it
Had the song for our wedding 18 years ago ( I'm 72) and will have it for my funeral

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,Zeph
Date: 06 Feb 16 - 10:31 AM

I read somewhere, but unfortunately can't remember where, that he wrote this just after the birth of his child, which is a pretty mind-blowing and spiritual sort of time anyway. It kind of made sense to me then.

I'm only repeating what I read, I don't even know if he had any children, and I don't want to undermine any of the thoughtful and interesting interpretations above.

It's not an easy song to introduce: the thing that appeals to me personally about it is the lovely and powerful imagery of it. One doesn't want to appear to be preaching religion at an audience, whatever one's personal beliefs. Just share the wonderful visions that such poetic words can conjure up, whatever the origin

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,ho
Date: 04 Mar 16 - 04:06 PM

really wonderful song

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,A Nashville Writer
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 07:16 AM

A song is basically useless if people can't understand it first time around. Think about 'The Dance' .... 'The Gambler' .... 'Sunday Morning Coming Down' ....etc ....etc.
Apart from meaningless lyrics, the song is - from a musical standpoint - awkward to sing and badly constructed.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Raggytash
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 07:35 AM

"from a musical standpoint - awkward to sing and badly constructed"

I think this says more about your ability to perform than it does about the sing. Hundreds, if not thousands, of people have this song in their repertoire.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Jack Campin
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 07:58 AM

A song is basically useless if people can't understand it first time around.

If you can persuade your audience you are a sage living on a superior plane of wisdom you can string together any old incoherent garbage and they'll lap it up with reverential awe. Hence the success of this one.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Jeri
Date: 03 Jan 18 - 09:57 AM

There are people who want things handed to them on a silver platter, and then, there are those who enjoy figuring things out. There are also people who enjoy lyrics that inspire, and allow, their own interpretation.
That's all.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: GUEST,What a lot of hoopla over nothing
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 12:58 PM

How can any of you people talk about the 'meaning' of this song when none of the artists who have recorded it know what it means ..... nor does the writer himself know what it means. Thank God for 'Whiter Shade Of Pale'!

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 06 Jan 18 - 05:23 PM

Agreed! Dare I suggest that a lot of people like it just because it has a lovely tune! Certainly that's what drew me to it in the first place, when I heard Mary Black's version of it.
The same could be said of the "Ellis island" song which is currently featuring again in the list of threads - of course it has a meaning, but again, a fantastic tune which pulls you in!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Blue Rose (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: Felipa
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 04:35 PM

I hear this song a great deal at song sessions in Ireland. Most of the singers I've heard do a fine job singing the song, but I don't like to hear it because I cringe at the words "It is the only way," in conjunction with "to ponder his life and his death eternally". Smacks of the "only true faith" mentality i.m.o.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bright Blue Rose (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 16 Jul 21 - 05:48 PM

It's a beautiful song in m'humble (and I'm an atheist...). There's a treasurable YouTube of Jimmy singing it with Christy Moore, if you can find it...

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose (Jimmy McCarthy)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Jun 22 - 03:09 PM

Joe - do cleanup. Check spam.

Subject: RE: Help: Bright Blue Rose (Jimmy McCarthy)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 13 Jun 22 - 03:41 PM

I think it's a lovely song. Of course I don't know what it means, but there are lots of songs that I don't know the meaning of. Someone asked Don McLean what American Pie meant. He said that it meant he would never have to work again. Bobbie Gentry has said that she doesn't know what happened at that bridge. Let your imagination be fired! Sonnet 18 is my favourite poem, but I don't know who he was aiming it at or what some of the lines mean. The darling buds of may? Darling??

If you can find it on YouTube there's a wonderful, tender performance of Bright Blue Rose with Christy and Jimmy singing it together live.